Metal window unit comprising a frame and removable sliding sash



Jam. 18, 1955 N. L. STRlTZLER 2,699,825

METAL WINDOW UNIT COMPRISING A FRAME AND REMOVABLE SLIDING SASH Filed Sept. 14, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. NA THAN LE WIS STEITZLEJ? Jan. 18, 1955 STFUTZLER 2,699,825

METAL WINDOW UNIT COMPRISING A FRAME AND REMOVABLE SLIDING SASH Filed Sept. 14, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

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5V... 6 m/Z NY w "Ellnited States Patent METAL WINDOW'UNITi COMPRISING A'FRAME AND REMOVABLE SLIDING SASH Nathan Le'wis Stritiler, Westfield, N. J. Application Septemberl14y1953, Serial No. 379,865 6 Claims. (Cl. 160-90) This invention relates to a winfdowunit comprising a frame and aplurality of sliding sash and relates more particularlyto a noveluhitwhich may be constructed entirely of metal except for themounting elements for the sliding sash, whiehlatter are formedof synthetic plastic material and which afford easy Slldlllg movement of the sashto an adjustedfixed position without the use of any counterbalancing elements or retracnble pins.

Metallic window, frames ahd metallic sash have, of course, been known and theusual construction includes metallic trackways for the sash which resemble the wooden trackways. f the' prior art. The metal frame and sash, however, present the same problem as does the older woodenu it'in that the sash. either moves too freely or not freely enough, andusually the latter. In v1ew of this uncertain behaviorjsashweights are required 1n order to eliminate the possibilityof the sash suddenly dropping and mashing ones fingers.

The principalobject I of the present invention 18 to provide an improvedunit wherein the usual inwardly facing opposed U-shaped traclgweys are eliminated and in their place thelframeis provided with a pair of outwardly facing single track elements for each sash, the sash being provided with generally C-shaped supporting elements which clasp the outer edges of the tracks. Novel means areprovided for causingthe supporting elements on at least one side of each sash to exert a desired measure of spring-urged pressure on t he tracks. The spring loading .ofthe'supporting elements in addition to the natural friction yvhich is'jset tip between the metal tracks and the synthetic plastic supporting elements enable the sash to be moved upwardly or downwardly tea desired position where it stays, without the use of counterbalances, until again manually moved to another position.

Another object of the invention is to employ the novel spring loading of the supporting members as a means for effecting easy removal of the sash from the frame for cleaning or for any other purpose.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the inside of a window unit of the present invention, parts being broken away to more clearly show portions of the construction.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken through the window frame and showing portions of all three sash including the screen sash.

Fig. 3 is a broken detailed view, partially in section, of one of the vertical rails of the sash.

Fig. 4 is a broken section of the right-hand rail of the frame, the section being taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration in the drawings there is provided a frame for supporting an upper sash 10, a lower sash 11, each of substantially one-half the height of the inside of the frame and being provided with panes of glass 12, and a third sash 13 having a screen 14 therein. This arrangement permits the window opening to be completely closed for winter use and during such period the screen may retain its uppermost position shown in Fig. 1 or it may be removed completely.

For summer use the screen will remain in the frame so that when a screened opening is desired both window sash may be moved upwardly or downwardly and the screen sash moved downwardly or upwardly as the case may be to screen the opening. Each sash has its own trackway and if for any reason four sash should be de sired there may be provided four trackways.

. includes an intermediate 'wall 2,699,825 'Patented Jan. 18, 1 955 The frame includes similarly shaped but oppositely facing rails 1'5,a lower rail 16 and an upper rail 17. The rails are conveniently made from aluminum or other metal which is extruded to provide the crosssectional contour shown. Each rail includes a pair'of spaced, outwardly extending flanges ZU'WhlCh ;are 're ceived in the corner blocks (not shown) of the window opening. Itfurtherincludes a first'pair of outwardly facing trackways 21 for the screen sash, a second pair of trackways 22f0r the lower sash anda third pair of trackways23 for the upper sash, the latter trackways beingformed with inwardly extending'flanges 24 which form a water-tight closurewith the upper sash asshown (Fig.2).

Thev screen includes upper, and lower rails 25 and side rails 26, each of which is hollow and is formed from sheet metal suitably bent to'provide a generally rectangular cross-sectional contour. The rails are mitered 'at their terminals and are secured together as by means of staking. -One suchjside rail is shown in Fig. 3 andit which. is spacedoutwardly from anfinner wall 31 having a flange 32. There is thus provided a channel 33 which extends around the inner periphery of the frame to receive the screen which may be secured within the channel by any suitable means.

Fig. 3 also shows one of the sash supporting elements or bearing members 34 which enables the sash to .be slidable relative to the trackways of the window frame. This supporting element is mounted for inward and outward movement in an opening 35 in the outer wall 36 of the sash rail 126. It is constructed from a suitable synthetic resin which can be molded to shape or otherwise formed and which permits fairly free sliding movement of the element relative to the trackway while still affording enoughfricti'onal resistance to travel thereon,

while underthespring tension, to prevent the sash from moving of its own accord due to gravity.

The support has a vertical through bore 37. of generally rectangular shape which receives a wire spring 40 whose curved terminals 41fengage the inner surface of wall 36. Anyiforces tending to draw the element outwardly ofvthe rail are yieldingly resisted by the spring which contacts the innerwall of the bore at points 42.

The support furtherhas a 'generally-C-sl'iaped outer terrnm al 39jwhich1reeeives the outer. edge of track 21.

These] supportingfmembers which are in. effeetbe'arjing, elements may be made from any one of a number of the newer plastic materials formed from natural of synthetic resins. These materials are not as resilient as rubber, which can be expanded or deformed to a limited but desired extent and which seek to regain their original shape and continuously exert pressure against any member tending to resist this return. Material of this kind does not take a permanent set, except when a radical variation in temperature occurs which continues for a period of time. Specifically, nylon has given excellent results as has one plastic formed from tetrafiuoroethylene and is currently available under the trade-mark Teflon.

It was earlier pointed out that these bearing elements are spring loaded on at least one side rail of the sash. Thus it will be seen that the bearing elements at the lefthand end of the screen sash (Fig. 2) is provided with the spring 40 and the spring is omitted from the similarly shaped member at the right-hand end. In this instance the bearing element may be simply cemented or otherwise rigidly secured in the frame recess.

The rails in the other sash 10 and 11 are formed with inwardly facing recesses 44 to receive the glass and otherwise they are provided with the same bearing elements as have been described with reference to the screen sash.

To remove the screen sash from the tracks it is simply necessary to place the fingers on the right-hand vertical rail and move the rail far enough to the right to cause the left-hand movable bearing elements to move outwardly under the bending tension of the springs sufliciently far to enable the right-hand bearing elements to clear the right-hand track.

Another method of removal is shown for the other two sashes, namely, in providing recesses 45 in the tracks and when a bearing element is aligned with this recess it is moved toward the inside of the frame and the sash is removed without overcoming the tension of the springs. If desired the upper andlower rails of the frame may be provided with Weatherstrip means similar to vertical 7 Weatherstrip flange 24- for-the. outer sash.

While one form' or embodiment of the invention has I been shown and described herein for illustrative purposes, and the construction and arrangement incidental to one specific application thereof has been disclosed anddiscussed in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiment tracks, each sash including a generally rectangular frame of lesser height than the frame, each vertical rail of each said sash having a C-shaped bearing element extending outwardly therefrom and which grasps and rides on the outwardly facing track, the bearing elements on at least one side of each sash being outwardly movable under spring tension.

2. A metal window unitincluding a frame formed with upper and lower rails and vertical side rails formed with a plurality of pairs of outwardly facing tracks which are spaced inwardly, one from the other, and a window sash slidably carried on each pair of said tracks, each sash including a generally rectangular frame, each vertical rail of each said sash having a generally C-shaped bearing element formed of resilient bearing material and extending outwardly therefrom and which rides on the outwardly facing track, the bearing element on at least one side of each sash being outwardly movable and being spring-urged inwardly and which permits removal of the sash from the tracks when the spring-urged bearing element is moved outwardly.

3. A window unit including a frame formed with upper and lower rails and vertical side rails formed with at least three spaced pairs of outwardly facing single tracks, and a window sash carried on each pair of said tracks, each sash including a generally rectangular frame of substantially one-half the height of the frame, at least one of which sash supports a window screen and the remaining sash supports a pane of glass, each vertical rail of each said sash having at least two generally 0- shaped bearing elements extending outwardly therefrom and which ride on the outwardly facing tracks, the bearing elements on at least one side of each sash being outwardly movable under spring tension.

4. A window unit formed largely of metal and including a frame formed with upper and lower rails and vertical side rails provided with at least three spaced pairs of outwardly facing tracks, and a window sash carried on each pair of said tracks, each sash including a generally rectangular frame of lesser height than the frame, each vertical rail of each said sash having at least two generally C-shaped bearing elements formed of nylon extending outwardly therefrom and which ride on the outwardly facing tracks, the bearing elements on at least one side of each sash being outwardly movable under spring tension.

5. A window unit including a frame formed with upper and lower rails and vertical side rails formed with a plurality of pairs of outwardly facing single tracks, and a window sash carried on each pair of said tracks, each sashincluding a generally rectangular frame of lesser height than the frame, each vertical rail of each said sash having at least one generally C-shaped bearingelement formed of resilient plastic material which extends outwardly therefrom and which rides on the outwardly facing track, at least one vertical rail having a' bearing opening in which the bearing element is slidably mounted and a spring urging the movable bearing elementinwardly of the sash.

6. A window unit including a frame formed with upper and lower rails and vertical side rails formedwith a plurality of spaced pairs of outwardly facing single tracks, and a hollow window sash formed of sheet metal slidably carried on each pair of said tracks, each sash including a generally rectangular frame-of lesser height than the frame, the outer face of each vertical rail of each said sash having an opening therein and a generally O-shaped bearing element mounted therein and extending outwardly therefrom, said bearing elements riding on said tracks, the bearing element on at least one side of each sash being outwardly movable, anda spring urging the same inwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France Nov. 22, 1932 

